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Sami Zayn said before entering a triple threat match for the WWE Undisputed Championship at Night of Champions on Saturday that he didn’t know how fans in Saudi Arabia would react if he won.
He got his answer sooner than he thought.
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Sami Zayn wins the WWE Undisputed Championship during Night of Champions at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 27, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Cody Rhodes, the defending champion, had Zayn and Gunther lined up for Cross Rhodes towards the end of the match. He landed the move on Zayn but essentially threw Gunther out of the ring.
Rhodes shoved Zayn into the middle of the ring for one more Cross Rhodes, but Zayn escaped and hit “American Nightmare” and got the three count for an incredible victory. The crowd in Riyadh went crazy when Zayn surprised everyone.
WWE announcer Michael Cole described the pin as a “miracle.”
“A miracle in Riyadh,” Cole said.
Sami Zayn celebrates with fans after winning the WWE Undisputed Championship during Night of Champions at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 27, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
The professional wrestling community was elated by the sport’s “last good guy.”
Zayn was crying when he received the belt from referee Dan Engler. It is the first WWE world championship of any kind for Zayn. He also becomes the last wrestler to be a Grand Slam champion in WWE.
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“A lot has been said about me, some good and lately some bad. A lot of people said I would never win the WWE championship,” he said later. “But I’m here tonight in front of my people in Riyadh… It’s hard to believe. My God. I’m not normally speechless, but…”
Zayn was still trying to wrap his head around the moment as fans shouted, “You deserve it.”
Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn and Gunther face off during Night of Champions at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 27, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
“You know what? You’re absolutely right, I deserve it. Twenty-plus years in the game at the highest level, I never got the recognition. Ten-plus years chasing this championship, I never got the recognition. I don’t care what happens to me tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. Forever, I will be, Sami Zayn, WWE Champion.”
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Meanwhile, Gunther was furious with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis behind him and the two got into a physical altercation.
